Linda Castano (center) with D9 committee members Bonnie Wolber (left) and Bill Howard (right)
COUDERSPORTS, Pa. – District 9 recently honored Lindas Castano with its 50-year Officiating Service Award prior to her officiating a volleyball game at Coudersport High School.
Castano has been officiating volleyball since 1975, and in the late 1980s, she was selected by the PIAA to officiate the state championship for two consecutive years.
“Her knowledge of the rules and her common sense put her at the top of the list when it came time for schools to select officials,” District 9 Female Officials Representative Bonnie Wolbert, said.
Today, Castano spends much of her time teaching younger officials the intricacies of officiating.
“District 9 has profited from Linda’s integrity and dedication to the sport of volleyball,” Wolbert said.
Castano is a graduate of Coudersport Area High School and received her Bachelor’s degree from Edinboro University and her Master’s Degree from Gannon University.
After teaching one year at the Port Allegany Elementary School, she returned to Coudersport and was an elementary school teacher in the district for 33 years. and an elementary teaching position where she remained for the next 33 years. She coached girls’ junior varsity and varsity basketball at Coudersport along with track and field.
“She was always admired and respected by those she touched throughout her teaching and coaching careers,” Wolbert said.
Joining Wolbert in honoring Castano were District 9 committee members Bill Howard, the athletic director at Oswayo Valley and a longtime official, and John Sherry, who is the athletic director at Coudersport.
The 50-year Officiating Service Award was created by District 9 in an effort to honor long-term sports officials for their commitment to serving the student-athletes of District 9 and throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
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